Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1887-08-06
AN D LEGEND.

Nliuoi JOd Soi OPplCSloIO my lSSllLS0
of despair when | found myself
weary, bewildered and storm-bound
in the great woods of Canada.
1t was twenty years ago, to be sure,
but the recollection of that night is
as vivid in my mind as an event Of
yesterday. / had spent the day in
pursuit of game, and when night be-
gan to fall, gave up the chase with
the purpose of going to the settle
ment. An hour of hard trudging
through the snow still found me
among the. whitened trees, confused,
lost.
After fully awakening to a realiza-
ton Of the situation, there seemed to
come a cold wave sweeping through
the great, dismal forest, and with the
shudder of apprehension came a chill
that seemed to stiffen my limbs and
frost my face. The paroXysm of fear
lasted but a brief period, but the in
tense cold could not be overcome by
mental action, and the fact became
forcibly impressed that ! must keep
moving or perish.
eff only | knew which way to
60" l muttered to myself.
| gazed up through the leatless,
creaking branches Of the tall trees to
see if the stars had appeared, but the
sky was overcast and not a twinkling
object met the anxious gaze. Night
had fully come ; there was no moon,
but the darkness was not intense.
The earth being mantled with .fleecy
white, and the trees fringed with the
same, dark objects were visible for
several yards around.
The tramp was resumed with nc
idea as to direction or what adven-
lures lay in my path. Perhaps !
was going deeper and deeper into the
great woods, and if not there was lit
tie hope of getting out that night.
What a night! The wind cut as if
flied with millions of fine needles,
flying points foremost, and now be-
gan crusting so as to make walking
more labOriOus.
| cast about me for some spot
which would afford shelter from the
bowling tempest, but only the sturdy
trees, studded in the great, white
blanket, could be seem. | was weary
and chilled to the bone, but dared
not stop. Hour after hour slowly
passed, and no halt had been made.
My watch told me that half of the
night had passed, but could / survive
the other half? That was the ques-
ton.
| did, Of course, but it seems to me
now, as it did then, that Providence
guided my weary steps to safe rescue,
AT the very moment when | was
discussing the possibility Of enduring
the cold until dawn, a strange object
doomed up before me. 1t was a wig.
wan made Of poles and closely GOV.
cred with bark.
a single wigwam, buried, it prov.
ed, in the heart of the great Canada
woods. A cloud of smoke always as
white as the snow issued from the
top. Never was mortal more graf
flied. Going close to the fur-closed
doorway cried out:
"Hello there !"
There was no response and | crieC
out again. The skin moved, and
the muzzle of rifle appeared.
ga white hunterlostin the woods
| said, getting out of the range of the
gun.
white hunter come in."
A moment later | was out Of the
biting frost, out of danger.
| found the only occupant Of the
forest to be a very aged Indian. His
face was wrinkled, his form bent
and the light covering of hair upor
his head as white as the crystals tina
danced in the winter wind outside.
The old man spoke English very
clearly, ana seemed glad l had come
He revived the fire, wrapped (;
blanket of wolf shin about my
shoulders, and at once set about pre-
pairing some warm drink and food
After thawing out, and partaking o
the red hermit's food, we sat cross
legged like Turks and smoked on,
pipes. The Indian vas inclined t
be reticent at first, but when helearn
ed that | was from the Upper Mis-
siSSippi he became interested.
You have been up and down thu
great river" he Intercepted.
Many times" | returned.
"YOu have seen the great bluff OF
the sunrise side Of Lake Pepin